2103 Grand Caravan Body Work Help

[bymbie]

Hi Folks,

I have some issue with my 2013 Grand Caravan and looking for some feedback.

1. I have a small spot where the paint is chipped/flaking. My dealership will not cover in under warranty as they believe that it is not manufacturer error but impact. The local body shop quoted me $450 (Canadian).

I can't afford that so I will try to fix it myself. I have 0 skills with this. If any of you have experience doing these types of repairs, please help me out. What kit should I order? How would you proceed? Thanks.

2. I had my winter tires installed on the van. I noticed (wasn't hard) tons of rust on the wheels (they are steel wheels from Canadian Tire - Made in China). I looked at some pictures from last winter and they were rusty already. Is this something I should be concerned about? Is it worth cleaning-up? If so, how?

Thank you for your feedback.

Cheers.

 

[Erampu]

A little sandpaper, some primer and a matching paint from the auto parts store will give you a decent match on that paint.

As for the wheels, I don't see any rust - just a lot of dirt. If you're talking about the very center, that's not the rim and it's no big deal.

 

[bymbie]

Hi Erampu,

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I meant the very center. Wife is not happy with that look, so I promised her to make it look better somehow...

 

[Professur]

$10 plastic covers for the rim ... A bottle of the touch up for the fender. Where you at?

 

[48RON54]

Hi Erampu,

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I meant the very center. Wife is not happy with that look, so I promised her to make it look better somehow...

I would just get a rust encapsulator and paint over the wheel rust.

 

[bymbie]

@Professur Yellowknife, NT

 

[Professur]

That's a long way for me to give a hand.

 

[bymbie]

Thanks for the offer though. I do a lot of woodworking so I'm okay with sanding and painting... hopefully I can make it look decent.

 

[justme-]

Get a "preppen" for sanding - fiberglass whiskers in a holder. works awesome for small chips like that, followed by the factory touch-up paint which from chrysler comes with both a ball point (for scratches) and a brush for larger chips.
Just did a few of those and some larger on my 01 Intrepid last month. Never be perfect unless you have a shop redo the quarterpanel, but good enough to prevent rust and hide it at first glance.
FWIW our 09 town and country has a similar on the hood near the headlight - just bubbled paint so far, hasn't broken through yet. Dealer/factory won't cover surface rust or paint failures from impacts, but they do cover rust through, so if the steel rusts through and makes a hole within the factory coverage (7 years I believe) they will fix it.
Living in the rust belt... road salt is heavy and hard on vehicles. They forecast a really bad winter up here, I "expect" mine will break through by spring.